Visiting Cuba for the first time. Suggestions on currency to tAke for tipping/purchases. When visiting Mexico, I usually use by debit card at the airport to withdraw pesos. Is this an option in Cuba? I heard debit cards (Canadian) don’t work??? Suggests???

Husband and I just went in September and we were told by locals to take down Canadian. We went down with American and not only got ripped off in converting but almost no one would deal with us when we had American so keep it Canadian currency or switch over to their Cuban pesos

If you do go to a Cuban bank get a local to go with you because the people aren’t very friendly and accommodating when it comes to money. Our bank cards and credit card we’re almost useless unless on the resort.

Just bring down Canadian, you can swap for pesos at the hotel. There's not a lot to buy there anyway...

We have used our bank cards with no issue but you can bring cnd money and exchange it while there.

In Cuba you have to buy Cubian tourist dollars

We just came back and this is what we learned. Bring Canadian cash. Easy to exchange and rates are not too bad. Only major bank cards that are Canadian work for debit. We both had a Canadian credit card but was a master card from capital one and would not work. We just brought cash and had good luck converting a bit everyday. As for tipping is it very important in Cuban culture even if you are at an all inclusive plus you’ll get better service. We stayed for a week and figured we spent about 100-125 on tipping. From maid to bartender and a driver if you rent an old car or hire a guide to go to Havana etc

Capital one is American, which is why it wont work.

Yes we figured that out pretty quick lol. That’s why we brought cash

Exchange your money before you go, a lot less hassle.

You can’t exchange ahead. Cuba currency is a closed system and you have to exchange in Cuba

what bank carries Cuban pesos ?? TD sure doesn't...

Where? Its illegal to export Cuban Pesos.

We were told at the airport. But The currency place
was closed when we were there, so we had to exchange it at the resort.

Yep there’s no way you can get CUC here, take Canadian and exchange at the bank there or the bank in the lobby of your hotel

You can get Cuban at calforex in Chinook...or at least they had it listed there when I was there a couple of months ago

Bring Canadian (or a debit card) and you can exchange money at the airport.
US$ get charged 11% more.
Everyone wants a tip.
A CUC is worth 1 US$.

Bring Canadian. You will be charged a premium to exchange USD. Credit & debit cards from Canadian banks will work. Cuban tourist pesos cannot br bought outside Cuba. Most resorts will exchange your money.

You have to use Cuban convertible peso and you can only get them in Cuba

The maids and bartenders are making more than doctors and lawyers due to Canadians tipping so much. It is throwing the economic system out of whack. Tip minimally. If you watch the maids, they leave with bags of tips that they’ve received. They are the wealthiest due to the way people are tipping.

Where did you hear this. The maids are paid so little for what they do. Never heard of this before and a friend of mine married a maid at one of the resorts.

I’ve been to Cuba four times and spoken to the people there as well as witnesses this happening. I’ve personally brought items to give as tips.

Delane wow been several times and have never heard this. We also bring items to tip but also leave cash. They usually make about 6 a month in wages.

And I believe doctors make $20/month. If everyone leaves the maid a $1 per day, they make $36/month with -one person-alone. More than a doctor. Imagine how much tips a bartender can make!
I have heard many times that people with degrees or even multiple degress are bartenders because they make more money.
I will research this further before I go again

Ya my friend married a maid and another a security guard. I have just sent a text message regarding this. If its true then i will change things up a.little.

Cyrena Corbett Keep us posted!

Yannick will do.

I welcome Suggestions on What kinds are things are appreciated to give as little tokens/gifts

Shampoo, conditioner, soaps, toothbrushes, toothpaste, candy, clouring books, crayons and toys for the kids. We also brought school supplies when we went. Any clothes in good condition that you are getting rid of.

Great thanks!

I believe that tipping generously should be practiced in a country where they make such a small wage. Cuban people are very friendly and gracious. They also are very grateful for the tips not to mention you get amazing service. On the last day of our trip we made a point of tipping all the back staff, pool boys and they staff that are often forgotten about when it comes to tipping. Also I brought a lot of Barbie' s and GI joe's for the children when we went far into the country. Children line the backroads in hopes of gifts from tourists. It is very heart warming to see how happy a toy can make a child. Next time I go to Cuba, definitely will bring tons of kids clothing. It was very sad to see children in clothing much to small for them. Also I brought lots of Tylenol and children's cough syrup and Flintstone vitamins as I was recommended by a friend. They really appreciate children's medicine, feminine products, nail polish etc

Why is this a bad thing?? the staff at resorts work hard, and it is a "tipping" industry why fault them for choosing a good job!?

Andrea agree

Jennifer my thoughts too?? What's wrong with them making more than the doctors?

Take salt and pepper. Your gonna need it.

We just got back from Cuba and found it was the most fabulous food ever. No need for salt and pepper we found. Also depends on the resort you are at. Higher end resorts have much more authentic Cuban food which is full of flavour

Well u got lucky

and ketchup if you like it.

Our hotel had salt, pepper, and ketchup. We didn't need a thing. We had brought it and never used it.

We took a few dollar store skipping ropes, frisbees etc. I was told to give them to the maids for their children but held on to them for a couple of days and glad I did. The one day we went to the beach and locals were playing in the water.I asked the security guard if he could speak to them in Spanish.He told them I had toys and the look on ther faces was a picture. So worth it.

There is a black market for USD. CUC must be drawn from local banks. Debit cards work only in bank machines. Hotels require visa cash advances or will exchange CAD for CUC. Very few accept VIsa and no one takes Amex.

Take Cdn currency and exchange for Cuban Convertibles at your hotel. Also take some loonies or toonies unless you want to pay for three squares of TP and a cleanish washroom. Coin may seem useless but there is an underground network so coin finds its way back to the departure area of the airport where Cubans exchange coin for paper currency. Finally leave your expensive jewelry/watches at home. It makes you less of a target and, while your tour guide may say there is little crime in Cuba, I question the validity of that statement when the driver i've hired puts the antenna in the trunk and hires someone to watch the car.

Car for them is a whole life's work or even 2 life's. Parts are impossible to get, that is why they keep an eye on it.

After Castro took power, Cubans were no longer allowed to buy privately owned cars. Hence the iconic 50's cars. There are also regional license plates and check points that make sure you have the plate that, for example, allows you passage onto the Varadaro penninsula. There's a house in Havana that I refer to as the "lace mansion". Its owner, a woman, could not afford repairs. The state offered to repair it if she signed they property over to the state. She refused and the once glorious mansion became increasingly run down.

Take Canadian, exchange at the airport before you leave to go to your hotel, often times you can do so at your resort as well. But they're not ALWAYS open when you need cash. Going to the bank to get cash is more of a hassle, banks are heavily guarded (by guards/with guns) and very secure, slow and usually a long wait.

I also bring basic hygiene items for tips. There is a huge need for clothes and shoes, too.

I am so glad a took a floaty was so nice in the ocean. Best holiday ever!!!

One thing that I did was I brought toys, clothing, anything that says Canada on it (hat), makeup etc... The people in Cuba don't have the ability to buy things like that over there. When ever I would leave my hotel for a tour I would bring a backpack with some of these things in them. One lady in Havana for example was desperate for tooth paste and asked all of the tourists as we were walking by. You will be so surprised what the people ask for. You can also use stuff as a tip for your cleaning lady. Leave what ever it is you want to give to her on the bed with a simple note saying for you, thank you. She will leave you extra towels and toilet paper. Also take your own toilet paper if you plan on leaving your resort.(super important)

paper. baby items google it as things are changing there.

The best for money exchange are in the CADECAS” best rate all around, better than hotels and inside the airport, also any Canadian credit card and visa/debit work at the ATM machines.

This is the exchange rate today and mostly stay the same every month:
100 CAN = 73-74 CUC
100 USD = 90 CUC
Some taxi drivers can exchange the USD up to 92-94 CUC x 100 USD

With dollar store stuff-remember that junk is junk in any country. We did get character kid tooth brushes and glow sticks and stickers-they were a big hit. We also left our running shoes, hats and I gave away some very inexpensive dresses that the locals loved!
Just like everywhere cash is the best thing to tip with and show appreciation.
When we were there we were invited to a local’s house for dinner in a small village and it was incredible, dirt roads, 8 people to a one bedroom house, dogs pulls carts etc. It was surreal! And so cool. We had a village party and went and bought a flat of beer ($1/beer) and they were thrilled (rum is cheap there but beer is expensive)

DO NOT bring a Laptop!!!

Second this. Humidity destroys them

We just took Canadian money and it was fine. However now that America is welcomed back I am not sure anymore..

US$ get charged 11% extra on exchange.
They still prefer CA$.

Are toonies and loonies ok???

No.

No

Of all things that I got asked for was chewing gum. They do not import it at all and the young people love it. They were thrilled with it. One thing that people don't get is that that one maid may be supporting 12 people in her home. I met a woman that was giving massages on the beach and she was a grandmother and had three generations living in her house. Don't assume just because they get more then the average person that they still aren't struggling. Things aren't as cheap as you might think for them.

Barb or that they arent sharing. "My neighbours cousin lives in *not Varadero*, she is a school teacher! She can use pencils and paper!"

You can use Debit cards (from a Canadian bank) to withdraw CUC from bank machines. Canadian dollars are easily exchangeable for CUC. Tip in CUC/CUP otherwise the person has to find another tourist that will trade them for their toonies/loonies (as nowhere will exchange coins). Lots of people asked for clothes as soon as I mentioned I was from Canada. Have fun!

I wish I had tons of room

Youll get tourist pesos at the hotel. You need your passport to exchange money. 4 pesos is about 5 bucks canadian. Loonies and toonies are great for tipping. Tourist pesos are something like 20 times the value of regular pesos. Bring TP with you!

1 CUC =25 CUP
You can’t buy anything with the regular cuban pesos(CUP)

Wrong. In Havana anyways, they often have both prices, why would they refuse a sale? Dont know about tourist traps like Varadero.

Yannick I’m a Cuban-Canadian and I know what Iam talking about

Yannick everywhere in cuba you can have and buy anything in both currencies, but is just for my cuban people that dont have access to the CUC, not for the tourists. Its wasting your time exchange the CAN into CUC and into CUP after all.

I'm a canadian and have bought stuff using CUP. Most tourists would not have CUP though, unless they got ripped off.

westjet allows each traveler to take a humanitarian bag for free. I assume under the 50 pound limit.

There are no credit machines! We visited 6 cities and the only credit machine we saw was in a cigar store in Havana selling $500 CUC boxes of cigars. If your staying on a resort I'm sure the have machines. My debit card worked on an ATM machine in Varadaro no problem, you can take out cash at the government banks but the line ups are long and have weird hours, so I would suggest not tipping in Canadian cuz then the locals would have to wait in line forever to exchange them, just give them a CUC cuz it's worth more than a Pesos.
We had to pay with cash everywhere we went. We would pay with CUC in the high volume tourist areas but if you leave and go a few blocks into the local areas, for example in Trinidad we found a store selling just cookies and we paid in CUC and got Pesos in change, which we could still use at the local grocery or bakery stores. Its 1 CUC to 25 Pesos, so just make sure they give you the right change.
Also CUC and Pesos look almost alike, so when you get change back, just check to make sure the CUCs have famous Cuban monuments and the Pesos have famous people faces, like Che Guevara.
Don't even get me started on the taxi collectiva system